Nutcracker.



W. GRADICK, Sn.

NUTCRACKER.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE28. I9]?- Patented Nov. 27, 191?.

WILEY GRADIGK, SR, or 'rrnnn, rrnzres, A

SSIG-NOR T0 (INCORPORATED).

JV'OLDERT GROCERY COMPANY nurcnec'nnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Faten'tedllov. 2?, 121% Application filed June 28, 1917. Serial No. 177,546.

To aZZcvlwm it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, WILEY GRADICK, Sn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Tyler, in the county of Smith and State of Texas, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Nutcrackers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake'and' use the same,

Thisinvention relates to certainnew and useful improvements in nut crackers.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a nut cracker having a pair of cooperating jaws with means for quickly and accurately adjusting one of the jaws with respect to the other to accord for the variations of the size of the nuts to be c racked,said adjustment being entirely independent of the means for forcing one of the jawsinto the engagement with the nut.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is made of a comparatively few parts, one of the members being a body member com posed of a base portion and a tubular portion, these two portions being integrally formed from a single strip of flat material.

A further object of the invention is to generally improve upon devices of this class by the provision of an extremely simple, strong, struction, one which will be eificient and reliable in operation, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

WVith these and numerous other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application, and in which similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a front elevation of the device constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional View of the device;

Fig. i is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line H of Fig. l;

durable and inexpensive con- Fig. 5 is a .member; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the nut'member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that the body member of the improved nut cracker is composed of abase portion 1 and a substantially tubular shank portion 2. These two portions are integrally united with each other, being formed from a single strip of flat material. The shank portion of the stripis disposed substantially at the right angles to the base portion and is bent into tubular form a short distance from the latter. Ihe tubular portion 2 is provided with a longitudinal slot 3 which is open at its end disposed adjacent the base portion 1 andis provided at one of its edges with a series of teeth 1. The base portion 1 is provided with a suitable socket or recess 5, the latter being disposed substantially in alinement axis of the tubular portion for to be hereinafter described.

Disposed within the tubular sliclable longitudinally in the same is a tubular nut member 6. Onone of the sides of the nut member 6 is tired in any suitable manner a strip 7 having a projection or a series of teeth 8 formed on one edge there of and adapted to engage the teeth 4 to lock the nut member in any one of its adjusted positions. Projecting outwardly from the nut member is a lug 9, which constitutes a handle member to be engaged when turn ing the nut member to engage or disengage the teeth 8 from the teeth 1.

The reference numeral 10 designates a screw having threaded engagement with the above mentioned nut member. This screw 10 is provided with a cross handle 11 at its upper end, and a head 12 at its lower end. lhe head 12 is to be connected to the screw 10 in any convenient manner, and is preferably to be provided with a re cess. Inasmuch as the tubular shank portion 2 of the body member has its axis in alinement with this socket or recess in the base portion of the body member, the recess in the head will be disposed in alineperspective view of the body a purpose 7 ment with said recess in said base portion.

In using the device constructed as above described, a nut is placed substantially longitudinally with respect to the body memberwith one of its ends disposed in the with the portion 2 and socket or recess arranged in the base portion 1. The nut member is then moved longitudinally in the tubular shank portion 2 so as to bring the head fixed to the screw in contact with the other end of the nut, said other end of the nut being received in the socket formed in said head. The ma" member is then turned so as to cause its teeth to engage with the teeth formed upon the tubular shank portion. This obviously locks the nut member against movement with respect to the body member so that upon turning the screw the head of the same will be caused to engage the nut and crush or crack it. It is to be particularly noted that by having the nut member adjustably mounted with respect to the body member a quick and accurate adjustment may be made to accord for the variations in size of the nuts.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying draw-.

ings, the construction, use and operation-of the device will be readily understood without a more extended explanation.

A various changes in the form, proportion,v and in the minor details of construction, may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a body member composed of a base portion and a tubular shank portionintegrally connected therewith, said tubular shank portion being provided with a longitudinal slot having a series of teeth formed on one edge, a nut member movably disposed within said tubular shank portion and provided with a projection to engage said teeth, and a screw having threaded engagement with said nut member and provided with a head at one end thereof disposed in alinement with said base portion to cooperate therewith.

2. A device of the class described comprising a body member composed of a base portion and a tubularshank' portion integrally united therewith'said tubular shank portion being provided with a longitudinal slot having a series of teeth formed on one edge,

and a strip fixed to one side of said nut member and disposed in said slot, and provided'with a series of teeth at one edge. to engage the first, mentioned teeth, anda screw having threaded engagement with said nut member and provided with a head atone end disposed in alinementwith said base portionto cooperate therewith.

,In testimony whereof I have hereunto'set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

Witnesses V ALEX. WOLDERTQ. MAUmoE Anrz'r.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,-

Washington, D. G. r r

a tubular nut member disposed with-- in said tubular shank portion,

' WILEY enAniox, sB; 

